Pipe fitting



J. R. YANCEY PIPE FITTING IJan. 4, 1938.

Original Filed DSC. 2, 1935 Patented Jan. 4, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT ori-ICE 2,104,177 PIPE FITTING John R. Yancey, Houston, Tex., assigner to Gray Tool Company, Houston, Tex., a corporation of Texas z claims.' (ci. 13s-ss) The present invention relates to pipe fittings, the application being a division of my application Serial No. 52,585, filed December 2, 1935, Patent No. 2,077,507, of April 20, 1937, for Device for adjusting ttings or the like under fluid pressure.

` The principal object of the invention is to provide a pipe iitting having-at least one end thereof provided with two means to enable piping elements to be connected thereto, with each of the two connecting means so constructed and arranged with respect to each other that a piping element may be secured to the iitting by one of the connecting means without'interfering with a piping element already secured by the other connecting means.

Other objects andadvantages of the invention will be apparent from the following drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the pipe iitting;

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 2--2 of Figure 1, and

Figure 3 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, showing a modiiied form of fitting.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the numeral I0 designates a tting of a form which may be used with the invention. The tting shown is a. cross fitting particularly adapted for use on oil wells as part of a Christmas tree. The iitting comprises vertical arms II and I2 and lateral arms I3 and Il, respectively intersecting bores I5 being formed in these arms and the end of each arm being provided with radially extending circum- Y ferential flanges I6. Each of the iianges I6 has circumferentially spaced apertures II therein arranged to receive bolts as indicated in dotted lines and by means of which similarly flanged piping elements may be secured to an arm of the present fitting. An annular groove I9 is formed in the face of each flange I6 between the apertures I'I and the mouth of the bore I5, the purpose of this groove being to receive a packing. The apertured ilange construction described above, with or without the groove I9, forms an outer connecting means 20 by means of which a piping element may be secured to the fitting I0.

A second or inner connecting means is also provided on each of the arms of the fitting by the threading of the outer end of the bore of the arm as indicated at 2l on the arm I3. The threads 2| will receive a plug 22 (indicated in vdotted lines) or other piping element, it being means 20 without this step being hindered by the presence of the plug 22 or other piping element iitted to the inner connecting means or threads 2l. On the other'hand, if a pipe or other piping element, such as 23, is secured to the outer connecting means 20, a piping element such as plug 22 may be positioned in the bore I5 through the piping element 23 by the use of the tool disclosed in my above identified application, and without any hindrance .from the latter.

It will be noted that Figure 2 shows no threads in the lower vertical arm ,Il of the fitting. Such threads may be provided in this varm as desired. In some instances, the threads 2| in the uppe arm I2 may be omitted.

Figure 3 shows a construction which is identical with that disclosed in Figure 2 except that the lateral arms I3a and Ila of Figure 3 have their bores Ia tapered outwardly toward the outer ends of the bores to receive a tapered plug 22a (shown in dotted lines) or other piping element having a tapered end. Since the bore I5a is not threaded, holding bolts 25 are positioned in apertures 26 in the peripheral edge of the ilange I6a between certain of the apertures I'I and for the purpose of holding -the plug 22a in seated position in the bore. The holding bolts 25 have their inner ends 21 tapered, the angle of the taper being such that it will coact with a. tapered shoulder v28 on the plug 22a. Suitable packing, such as 29,

is provided in the apertures 26 behind the heads 25a of the bolts 25, the packing being held in place by means of a gland nut such as 30. 'Ihe outer end of each bolt 25 may be squared as indicated at 3| or otherwise formed to receive a wrench.

It will be noted that the operation of the hold- A ing bolts 25 will not be hindered by any piping element secured to the iltting by the outer connecting means 20 and also that the outer connecting means 20 may readily be availed of despite the presence of theinner holding means comprising the bolts 25.

In both the forms of the invention shown in Figures 2 and 3, the outer ends of the bores I5 should not be of a larger diameter than the diameter of the bore of a pipe or other bored 'piping element adapted to be fitted thereto by the outer connecting means, so that the inner connecting means will be available.

The fitting of the present invention is particulariy adapted for use on oil or gas wells under a constant and unquenchable pressure, although it may be used for any purpose where constant and unquenchable pressures must be controlled.

The fact that either connecting means may be availed of without interfering with any piping element secured to the fitting by the other connecting means permits a piping element to be secured to the outer connecting means when a plug is positioned in the inner connecting means so that the plug may then be removed by the tool of my above identified application. The reverse operation may be conducted with equal facility and the fact that these operations can be performed permits a iiow line to be connected to one lateral arm of the tting for flow from the fitting and the source of pressure and while the other lateral arm is plugged. Subsequently, a flow line may be connected to the second and plugged arm and the plug removed so that ow may occur from that arm. The iirst-arm may then be in turn plugged so that the flow line.

connected thereto may be repaired. In this Way, the flow of iiuid may continue without interruption and without any possibility of any uid escaping and the source thus getting out of control.

In oil or gas well operation, for example, it has heretofore been customary to provide cross fittings only with an external thread for use as a connecting means. By that construction, it was impossible to replace iiow lines, since fluid might then escape and the Well might get from under control. The only procedure which could be adopted to change a ilow line was to attach another cross fitting, and even this could only be accomplished by temporarily shutting off the well. The shutting oi of a well, particularly a well which has been caused to ow by artificial stirn ulating methods, frequently resulted in a complete cessation of flow from the Well.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of construction shown in the drawing and that the example of the use of the invention which has been given does not include all of the usesof which it is capable; and that the phraseology employed in the specification is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

1. A pipe fitting provided with a bore and including an inlet and a pair of outlets, each outlet having a radially and outwardly extending flange provided with bolt apertures -to enable piping elements to be connected thereto, the bore of each outlet including an outwardly ared seat portion, a tapered plug adapted to seat in said seat portion to form a seal therein, and means outward of said seat portion and forming no part thereof to holdsaid plug in said seat portion.

2. A pipe fitting provided with a bore and including an inlet and a pair of outlets, each outlet having a radially and.outwardly extending iiange provided with bolt apertures to enable piping. elements to be connected thereto, said flange having radially extending apertures therein, the bore of each outlet including a tapered seat portion, a tapered plug adapted to seat in said seat portion to form a seal therein, said plug including an outwardly facing shoulder adjacent its larger end, and radially extending securing members positioned in the radial apertures of said flange and adapted to engage the outwardly facing shoulder on said plug to hold the latter sealed on the seat portion of the outlet bore.

JOHN R. YANCEY. 

